Lab 1 - Safety/Intro

Question 1

what do we put in the regular trash can?

Answer 1

paper towels, lens paper, tissue paper, other items as instructed

Question 2

what do we put in the glass coffin?

Answer 2

glass culture tubes (first we remove the marker labels w ethylene-soaked paper towel)

Question 3

what do we put in the biohazard disposal containers?

Answer 3

plastic culture tubes and plates, bodily fluids, and others. (you only handle your own bodily fluids and dispose of them properly)

Question 4

what do we put in sharps boxes?

Answer 4

any slides that you make (NOT the prepared slides and depression slides)

Question 5

what do we put in the broken glass container?

Answer 5

broken glass only, no trash

Question 6

define culture

Answer 6

to intentionally grow microbes

Question 7

define contamination

Answer 7

the presence of unwanted microbes

Question 8

define growth media

Answer 8

broth or agar medium containing nutrients for the growth of microbes

Question 9

what is broth and agar?

Answer 9

broth = liquid
agar = solid

Question 10

define sterile

Answer 10

the absence of any microbes

Question 11

is a growth media sterile?

Answer 11

yes

Question 12

define inoculation

Answer 12

to deliberately transfer a microbe into a growth medium

Question 13

define aseptic technique

Answer 13

it is used to minimize contamination of media and cultures (aka just being careful)

Question 14

define incubation

Answer 14

to allow a microbe time to grow under controlled conditions, ex a set temperature or oxygen level

Question 15

define mixed and pure cultures

Answer 15

mixed = population of microbes that have been grown and contains more than 1 kind of microbe (ex: skin)
pure = population of microbes that has been grown and contains only 1 kind of microbe only

Question 16

define isolation

Answer 16

to separate microbes present in a mixed culture into pure cultures

Question 17

define inspection

Answer 17

observing features of the microbe
(appearance on broth or agar tubes/plates, morphology (shape and size) under microscope, and growth on different media under different conditions)

Question 18

define identification

Answer 18

to find out the species of the microbe

Question 19

define pathogen

Answer 19

a microbe that can invade the body, reproduce and cause tissue damage

Question 20

define primary pathogen

Answer 20

can cause disease in healthy individuals

Question 21

define opportunistic pathogen

Answer 21

needs an opportunity to cause disease like an immunocompromised state, underlying medical conditions (like liver failure), pre-existing tissue damage (burns), high numbers, etc.

Question 22

when we work with opportunistic pathogens, what do we have to do?

Answer 22

use safety measures discussed

Question 23

what are biosafety levels (BSLs)?

Answer 23

Each microbe is assigned a biosafety level based on its relative threat to lab workers

Question 24

what is the least hazardous and most hazardous BSLs?

Answer 24

BSL 1 - Least hazardous
BSL 4 - Most hazardous

Question 25

the BSLs levels are assigned based on what 2 criteria?

Answer 25

• Ease of transmission
• Severity of disease

Question 26

what are bioaerosols?

Answer 26

sneezing, coughing, etc.

Question 27

what microbes does BSL-1 consist of?

Answer 27

Non-pathogens or opportunistic pathogens rarely causing serious infections

Question 28

Examples of diseases caused by BSL-1

Answer 28

Most of the normal microflora including Staphylococcus epidermis, E. coli, Aspergillus niger

Question 29

what are the safety protocols for BSL-1?

Answer 29

-Avoid generating bioaerosols
-Wear lab goat, safety goggles, gloves/bandages if skin is broken
-Wash hands before leaving lab

Question 30

what microbes does BSL-2 consist of? + examples

Answer 30

-Pathogens with moderate overall risk; moderate chance of being transmitted and causing mild or easily treatable disease.
Example: Salmonella enterica, Serotype Typhi, Staphylococcus aureus

OR

-Pathogens with a very low chance of transmission but causing serious disease.
Example: HIV

Question 31

what are the safety protocols for BSL-2?

Answer 31

-Wear gloves when handling cultures
-Wear face shields in case of risk of splashes
-Use a biosafety cabinet to direct airflow away from you in case of risk of bioaerosols

Question 32

what microbes does BSL-3 consist of?

Answer 32

Pathogens with significant risk of respiratory transmission leading to severe or deadly disease

Question 33

what are examples of diseases that BSL-3 cause?

Answer 33

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis

Question 34

what are the safety protocols when handling BSL-3?

Answer 34

-Respiratory protection required (use a sealed biosafety cabinet, or wear a respirator and use an open-front biosafety cabinet)
-1 way airflow must direct pathogens away from lab doors towards a filtering unit
-Lab must have lower air pressure than the surrounding space to prevent air-borne pathogens from escaping out

Question 35

what microbes does BSL-4 consist of?

Answer 35

Extremely high-risk pathogens that are easily transmitted by aerosols and frequently cause death in infected people

Question 36

in BSL-4, are effective treatments and vaccines available?

Answer 36

No, effective treatments and vaccines are unavailable

Question 37

what are examples of diseases caused by BSL-4 microbes? what are these diseases transmitted by?

Answer 37

Ebola virus, Lassa virus
They are transmitted by aerosols

Question 38

what is the safety protocol for handling BSL-4?

Answer 38

-Wear a positive pressure suit that provides uncontaminated breathing air
-If suit is punctures, air rushes out and minimizes exposure to the pathogens

Question 39

SARS-CoV-2 is a ____ pathogen?

Answer 39

BSL-3

Question 40

what is a thermal burn?

Answer 40

an injury caused by exposure to excessive heat

Question 41

what is the primary and secondary advantages of using the aseptic technique?

Answer 41

1- To prevent contamination of microbes from culture media.
2- To protect students in the laboratory.